Supporting flood-affected communities in Pakistan
In July 2010, devastating floods in Pakistan killed more than 1,600 people and displaced around 20 million others. In the aftermath, we supported our partner in its efforts to distribute much-needed medicines across the country and to find help for the ongoing provision of shelter and water supplies.
In what were reported to be the worst floods Pakistan has experienced in decades, thousands of people were killed, millions displaced and more than 17 million acres of agricultural land were submerged under water. Huge numbers of livestock, fish and poultry farms were wiped out, crops were destroyed and houses collapsed or were submerged.
Through our partnership with the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) in Pakistan, we were able to respond quickly to the floods and help OPP in its emergency relief work. This work initially focused on helping to distribute medicines to medical camps set up in flood-affected regions. Each camp, served by doctors volunteering their
skills, treated thousands of people each month, with some seeing as many as 400 patients a day. The camps were vital in helping to treat injuries, as well as illnesses such as typhoid, malaria, diarrhoea and scabies. OPP also helped with rescue operations, operating in camps set up for displaced people and distributing supplies such as food, water purification tablets and clothing.
Displaced from their homes, many families camped on embankments and roads for up to three months until the floodwaters receded. Eventually returning to their villages, families faced new challenges as they found their homes in need of repair or swept away entirely. The damage to water supplies caused
more problems, limiting access to clean water and leaving some people with no choice but to drink the floodwater, causing further health problems. With winter fast approaching, OPP shifted its priority to helping families clear the rubble from their villages and rebuilding their homes, whilst still helping to provide medicines.
After the flooding, we were contacted by another UK charity, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF), who wanted to support the flood relief work. We introduced MRDF to OPP and, in January 2011, a six-month project began to help provide shelter and water supplies to over 800 families affected by the floods in the provinces of Sindh and South Punjab. Not only will the shelter provided through this project help to protect families from the elements and avoid future flooding (many families have chosen to raise the platform of their houses), it will also provide privacy and a space for economic activity and social care.
Over the coming year, OPP will continue to focus on helping those affected and in need of support.
7
annual review 2011
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